ITWomen

Powered by the support of the Akamai Foundation, ITWomen ran the second edition of its free in-person Summer Robotics & Coding Camp. During the camp, underserved middle and high school girls worked in teams to code robotics projects while learning foundational concepts in engineering, problem-solving, and collaboration. Daily guest speakers, including Akamai engineers led by Principal Security Consultant Teresa C., connected classroom learning to real careers in technology and cybersecurity. The camp culminated in a Robotics Showcase, where students proudly demonstrated their projects to families and educators. The experience fostered confidence, resilience, and a powerful shift in self-perception as the girls began to see themselves as future technologists, solving real-world problems.

Akamai’s support allowed the organization to expand their NextGen Mentoring Program. This expansion included hiring a dedicated Mentor Program Coordinator, launching structured career readiness workshops, and developing a platform to support mentor recruitment and long-term outcome tracking. Akamai’s investments strengthened ITWomen’s ability to inspire participation and progress for girls and young women pursuing technology pathways.

ITWomen’s Summer Camp program entered its fourth year and introduced more girls to exciting career possibilities in STEM, piloting its first Virtual Robotics and Coding Camp. Designed to reach traditionally underserved students, the virtual format leveraged the Riders.ai platform to provide an enriching hands-on experience in engineering, coding, and robotics. Outside of the camp, Akamai employees mentored engineering club members at local high schools and ITWomen Scholars through virtual and in-person sessions. By sharing their career journeys, these remarkable female “Akamites” showcased the growing opportunities in cybersecurity and Akamai’s pivotal role in securing the digital world. Their involvement encourages young women to envision themselves thriving in technology and engineering.